Draft-gear unit



May 1 1927f .1. M. WAUGH DRAFT GEAR UNIT Filed Oct. 5, 1925 fiver ER ames ZZZ wazzylz.

Patented May 17, 1927.

, JAMES H. WAUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-GEAR UNIT.

Application filed October '5, 1925. Serial No. 60,370.

In the construction of draft gear units using double concave separators it has been found that the friction plate immediately adjacent the concave surface of a separator,

when repeatedly deflected is shifted longitudinally so that one end of the plate tends to become embedded in the concave surface of the separator, while the other end of the plate is projected beyond the end of the separator and digs into the inner wall of the draft gear casing, thereby reducing the tension in the draft gear and creating slack.

To obviate the above defects an improved draft gear unit has been devised wherein slotted housing members enclose a plurality of friction elements including double concave separators of improved design adapted to permit the friction plates immediately adjacent the side surfaces thereof to seat in suitable pockets or recesses to prevent shift-- ing of said plates longitudinally, thereb obviating the embedding of the ends 0 the plates in the concave surfaces of the separator and in the walls of the draft gear housing or casing.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved draft gear unit wherein a simplified housing section is adaptedto enclose friction elements, groups of which are sepa- 30 rated by separators of improved design.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a draft gear unit wherein double concave separators are provided with recesses or ockets for the purpose of receiving the friction plates immediately adjacent the concave surfaces of the se arators.

It is an important object o this invention to provide a draft gear unit comprising a plurality of slotted housing members adapted to have follower blocks engaged therewith, with said follower blocks being separated by a plurality of groups of friction plates, said groups being separated by separators'of improved design, recessed to receive the shortened end friction plates of said groups of friction plates.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention .(in a preferred form) is illustrated inthe drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top lan view of a draft. gear unit of improved orm having improved separators embodying the principles of this.

The improved draft gear unit of this invention comprises four angled housing or casing sections 1, one flange of each of which is provided with a pair of longitudinally directed slots 2. The four slotted angled housing sections are adapted tobe grouped as illustrated in Figure 2 and are separated by means of convex follower blocks 3 having projecting shoes t integrally formed on the top and bottom surfaces thereof.

Each of the follower blocks 3 is provided with four integral extensions or lugs 5 which are adapted to be removably projected upwardl through the respective slots 2 of the angle housing sections 1. Each ofthe lugs 5 is provided with a slot 16 through which a cotter pin 17 is engaged to hold the housing sections assembled with respect to said follower blocks. Positioned between theinner convex surfaces of the follower blocks 3 are a plurality of groups of friction plates 6 with each of said groups having an end friction plate 7 of a length slightly less than the remaining dates of the group.

Separating the two middle groups of friction plates 6 is a double convex spacer block 8 having shoes 9 integrall formed on the top and bottom surfaces-t ereof. Separating the outer groups of friction plates are double concave separators 10 having concave side surfaces 11, the middle portions of which are provided with integral bosses 12. The'concave surfaces 11 extend to a point near the ends of the separators and oin notches or recesses 14 cut or otherwise formed in the side surfaces of each separator, leaving sto flanges 15. As clearly illustrated in 1 re 5 the short friction plates 7 are of a fihgth permittin the same to seat in the recesses 14 of e separators.

I between the stop flanges 15. The remaining friction lates 6 of each group are of a length so stantially the same as that of the separators. This peculiar construction of the separators 10 affords a means whereby the shorter-friction plate 7 may seat in the pockets or recesses 14 of the separator block,

thereby separating the longer friction'plate 6 from the concave surfaces of the separators. This arrangement prevents the longitudinal shifting of the plates 7 and also prevents the ends of the friction plates 7 from digging into said concave surfaces and into the faces of the housing walls in inoperative positions, thereby lessening the tension in the draft gear and also creating slack. v

The improved draft gear unit may be readily assembled by the manufacturer and shipped as a unit to railway car builders to be placed in position within a drawbar yoke of a railway car, without requiring expert assemblers.

The four slotted angled housing sections afford a light weight, inexpensive housing section adapted to adequately enclose the friction elements and the separator blocks between the end follower blocks, the slotted lugs of which are adapted to be removably engaged in the slots of said angled housing sections with the cotter pins 17 projecting therethrough to hold the casing sections in proper assembled relation.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range with out departing from the principlesof this invention, and I therefore do not'purpose limiting the patent" anted hereon, otherwise than necessitate by the prior art.

I claim as my invention;

1. A draft gear element comprising a block having the side surfaces thereof concaved, said blockalso having recesses therein lfclirnliing stop flanges along the endsof said J or i *2. The combination with adraft gear unit of. the plate spring type of a separator forming a part thereof, and com rising a block having stop flanges forine on the ends thereof withthe sides of said block being concaved and terminating in friction'plate receiving recesses.v

3. A draft gear unit comprising a casing, groups of friction plates outermost friction plates at one end of each group of friction plates being shorter than the remaining plates of the group, and a double concave separator block between said groups of friction plates, said separator block having stop flanges formed thereon adapted to hold the short friction plates seated against longitudinal shifting.

4. A draft gear unit comprising a casing, a plurality of groups of friction plates therein with the end plates at adjacent ends of said groups of plates being shorter than the remaining plates of the respective groups, and a double concave separator between said shorter friction plates, said separator having recesses formed therein to receire said shorter friction plates seated therein, and stop flanges integrally formed on the ends of said separators against which the longer friction plates adjacent the shorter friction plates are adapted to contact.

A draft gear unit comprisinga plurality of slotted angled housing sections, follower blocks, slotted lugs formed thereon and projet-ting through the slots of said housing sections, pins projecting through said slotted lugs, groups of friction plates positioned be tween said housing sections and between said follower blocks, a spacer block separating the two middle groups of friction plates, and recessed double concave separators separating other of said groups of friction plates.

6. A draft gear unit comprising four angled housing sections with one of the flanges of each housing section having longitudinal slots therein, convex follower blocks positioned between said housing sections, slotted lugs integrally formed on said follower blocks and projecting through the slots of said housing sections, pins projecting through said slotted lugs, groups of friction plates positioned between said housing sec tions and between said convex follower blocks, a double convex separatorblock positioned between the two middle groups of friction plates, and double concave separators between other of said groups of friction plates, said separators having recesses formed therein affording pockets for the friction plates immediately adjacent the sides of said separators.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name,

"therein, with the J AMES M. WAUGH. 

